10 Brain Tumor Symptoms
A brain tumor is a term being used to describe a mass of abnormal cells that have developed in the brain. As any tumor, brain tumors can be divided into malignant and benign tumors. Brain tumors can also be classified into primary tumors which are usually benign and originate from the brain itself, and secondary tumors which are malignant and originate and spread from other body organs.
Depending on the type of the cells, brain tumors can be gliomas, lymphomas, meningiomas, schwannomas, etc. Most brain tumors are inherited. Which symptoms will develop depends on the part of the brain which is affected by the brain tumor itself, however, it has been commonly noticed that there are some main symptoms of brain tumors. Also, not all brain tumors cause symptoms - some of them start to show symptoms after they have entered a late stage.
Symptom #1: Headaches
We all have had our own experience with headaches, unfortunately. Caused by too much stress at work or maybe even allergies, headaches are unavoidable. However, you have to learn to tell the difference between a headache caused by stress or allergies and a headache that might be caused by a brain tumor.
A headache caused by a brain tumor is usually constant and dull. They tend to be worse in the morning after laying down and improves with being upright as the day goes on. Some brain tumors, especially in the early stages, may not cause any headaches at all. Consult your doctor for more information.
Symptom #2: Vision Problems
You might not be aware of the presence of this particular symptom until you suddenly notice that you start to bumping into things more often or feel the need to wear glasses because you feel your vision has weakened.
Vision problems such as vision loss, double vision or blurred vision are common symptoms of brain tumors. Pituitary tumors are most commonly guilty for the presence of this symptom due to their development that affects the optic nerve. Also, a brain tumor in the occipital lobe might cause loss of vision in one or both eyes.
Symptom #3: Fatigue
Have you been getting your quality sleep and still feel tired throughout the day? Perhaps your fatigue is a sign of your body telling you that a brain tumor has developed.
Fatigue, despite the extra, quality sleep, can be caused by the extra energy that your body is burning to fight the brain tumor. Often, as the brain tumor grows more and more, you might feel the need for extra sleep.
Symptom #4: Loss of Balance
Have you felt as if you need more focus to maintain your balance, especially in the dark? Have you been finding it difficult to coordinate your hands and legs? Loss of balance might be a symptom of a brain tumor present in the cerebellum, which is responsible for integrating information to maintain balance and coordination.
If you start to fall more often, or find walking more difficult, please make sure that you consult a doctor. Even if your loss of coordination and balance has not been a symptom of brain tumor, it is still a severe symptom whose origin needs to be discovered.
Symptom #5: Personality Changes
If there is a brain tumor located in the front part of the brain, personality changes are among the first symptoms. Depending on the exact location and size of the tumor, your personality and mood can significantly alter.
You may feel depressed, anxious, irritated, confused, or even appear more aggressive than usual, even if you have no history of aggressive behavior. Of course, these personality changes can be a symptom of a mental disease, so it is up to the doctor to discover the real cause.
Symptom #6: Cognitive Problems
Loss of concentration, memory loss, confusion, and disorientation are common cognitive problems that patients with brain tumors often experience. Of course, cognitive decline can be a sign of old age, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and so many other medical conditions.
However, that does not change the fact that we are talking about a serious symptom that needs to be noticed and reported to a professional as soon as possible so that the causes of its origins can be determined and a treatment plan can be set.
Symptom #7: Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are among common symptoms of brain tumors, mainly because the increased intracranial pressure due to the presence of the brain tumor, causes these symptoms to occur especially in the morning after an extended period of inactivity.
Nausea and vomiting can also be caused by numerous other causes as well, so this symptom needs to be investigated with caution.
Symptom #8: Difficulty Speaking
Problems such as slurring and stuttering speech, use of inappropriate words, incoherent speech are common signs of a brain tumor.
The patient is usually unable to form a meaningful sentence, read out loud what he/she has written or uses non-existent words. All of these speaking problems can be the sign of a stroke, migraine attack or a brain tumor, meaning that a doctor’s examination is required as soon as possible.
Symptom #9: Hearing Problems
You may experience hearing loss in one ear or even constant ringing in one or both ears which are symptoms that may be due to a brain tumor.
If you have a similar experience with a hearing problem make sure that you schedule a check-up with your doctor so that the root of this problem can be discovered.
Symptom #10: Infertility
Our brain controls everything that is going on in our body, so it should not sound surprising to hear that infertility too can be a sign of a brain tumor.
The pituitary gland which produces hormones and makes sure that hormone production in the body goes well can often be affected by a brain tumor, causing infertility to develop.
